1954 Soviet Union legislative election

1954 Soviet Union legislative election

14 March 1954
All 1,347 seats in the Supreme Soviet
First party Second party   Leader Nikita Khrushchev Party CPSU Independent Alliance BKB BKB Leader since 13 March 1953 Last election 1099 217 Seats won 1050 297 Seat change 49 80 Percentage 78.0% 22.0%
Chairman of the Council of Ministers before election Georgy Malenkov CPSU Elected Chairman of the Council of Ministers Georgy Malenkov CPSU

Stamp marking the 1954 elections

Elections to the Supreme Soviet were held in the Soviet Union on 14 March 1954.

Electoral system

Candidates had to be nominated by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) or by a public organisation. However, all public organisations were controlled by the party and were subservient to a 1931 law that required them to accept party rule. The CPSU itself remained the only legal party in the country.

Voters could vote against the CPSU candidate, but could only do so by using polling booths, whereas votes for the party could be cast simply by submitting a blank ballot. Turnout was required to be over 50% for the election to be valid.

Candidates

CPSU candidates accounted for around three quarters of the nominees, whilst many of the others were members of Komsomol.

Results

Soviet of the Union

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Communist Party of the Soviet Union	120,479,249	99.79	565	–15
	Independents			143	+45
Against		247,897	0.21	–	–
Total		120,727,146	100.00	708	+30
Valid votes		120,727,146	100.00
Invalid/blank votes		680	0.00
Total votes		120,727,826	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		120,750,816	99.98
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Soviet of Nationalities

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Communist Party of the Soviet Union	120,539,860	99.84	485	–34
	Independents			154	+35
Against		187,357	0.16	–	–
Total		120,727,217	100.00	639	+1
Valid votes		120,727,217	100.00
Invalid/blank votes		609	0.00
Total votes		120,727,826	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		120,750,816	99.98
Source: Nohlen & Stöver